Sorting and classifying system for cards or the like



Mam}! 1951 w. E. BLOCK 2,544,251

scams AND CLASSIFYING SYSTEM FOR CARDS OR THE LIKE Filed June 24, 1944 5Sheets-Sheet 1 W26 26 (L25 26 26 I 25 4;

2 92 i I I l March 6, 1951 w, BLOCK 2,544,251

SORTING AND CLASSIFYING SYSTEM FOR CARDS OR THE LIKE Filed June 24, 19445 Sheets-Sheet '2 Uddbgoo u. a a

25 ll 55 v a 245 165264 26' @HQQQQQ March 6, 1951 Filed June 24, 1944 W.E. BLOCK SORTING AND CLASSIFYING SYSTEM FOR CARDS. OR THE LIKE 5Sheets-Sheet 3 March 6, 1951 w. E. BLOCK 2,544,251- SORTING ANDCLASSIFYING SYSTEM ox CARDS 0R1'I'HE' LIKE Filed June 24, 1944 5Sheets-Sheet 5 I I WillidJflEBlOCifi [vim/A Y Patented Mar. 6, 1951UNITED STATE s PATENT OFFICE son'rmc AND CLASSIFYING SYSTEM FOR CARDS onTHE LIKE William E. Block, Chicago Ill.

Application June 24, 1944, Serial No. 541,936

11m invention relates provement in perforated record cards, sheets, andQthe like, such as areuse'd for sorting, separating .and classifyingrecords and also a mechanism for selectively withdrawing one singlecard, or a 9 Claims. (clams-51 .11

to a new and useful imgroup of cards from a stack of cards of similarconfiguration.

One important object of my invention is to pro- ."vide a series ofperforations on two edges of a 'card. the said perforations beingdesignated in geometric progression, and also being provided withassorting perforationsto enable one to as- ,sort the cards readily' inupright and forward 'fac- 'rg 'g positionpreliminaryIto the actualassorting -opferation, the-sequence arrangement or position of the cardsbeing immaterial and in no way af- -.fecting'the selectivity afiorded bymy system or perforations. I

Another object of my'invention is to provide an ajssorting card whichmay be of any polygonal h structure, regular, or irregular, approachinginfinity, except that a circular card is to be pro- .Yi with at leastone irregularity to permit iwfimg the Same in Proper position asaforemenii fi for selective purposes.

' Another object of my invention isto provide an assorting card whichmay be selectively withdrawn from a large stack ofcards, theselectioncards have been first righted, thatis namely, placed in erect andforward facing position.

Another object of my invention is to'provide 1 a selective'assortingmechanism which comprises ,a chamber adapted for setting up the cards"in the correct position preliminary to the selective operation, the saidmechanism comprised of a selective mechanism articulately secured to theinitial arranging mechanism; adapted to be positioned at right anglesthereto, the'said articulate section being comprised of a primarycompartment in which the cards remainin position for selectivity, anintermediate compartment in ;which a group of like cards are caused todrop 7. after the first selective operation, and a final I compartmentinto which a single card is disposed .to drop after the second selectiveoperation. No llmatter how many cards are used in an original ,stack,any onecard may be selectively removed therefrom in only two operations.

T A further object of my invention is to provide 'fthe assortingmechanism, mentioned hereinabove, Lwithvibratory'action for subjectingthe cards to intermittent a1ternate forward and rearward .shakingactivation so as to cause the desired and jf nnsupported cards to dropthru.

thereof comprising but two operationsjafter the.

. z Another object of my invention is to provide an assorting card andmechanism for the purposes heretofore mentioned which is simple in con.struction, practical and efiicient in its operation "anduse, and ofsuch relatively simple arrangement as to warrant economical productionthere- "of in quantity.

Other objects, features and advantages resident in'my invention willbecome apparent from an examination of the accompanying drawings and theensuing description, wherein like symbols are used to designate likeparts, and in which;

;I .Fig. 1 represents a schematic or diagrammatic to selectivity; inother words, arranging the cards all in such a position that therespective arrangement showing the method of orientating the cards,originally, as an operation preliminary sorting holes 25 are inalignment, the said view indicates the three steps adapted to isolatethe cards into groups in all the possible positions which they mayoccupy in the stack, after the stack has first been coincidentlyarranged so that all of the cards are congruent or coincidentlypositioned.

'Fig. 2 is a front view of one of the cards showing my invention and themethod of coding the same for selectivity and for orientating orpositioning preliminary toindividual selection.

' Fig. 3 shows the first operation, the stack of J cards being shown inperspective with a series of needles passing therethru, while the cardsgnot. being held 'by the needles have been caused to drop as indicatedin that view.

Fig. 4 show the second or ultimate operation andfis a perspective viewindicating the cards that have been dropped as a result of the precedingoperation illustrated in Figure 3, also showing clearly the card T3dropping thru as the card which has been selected as the one desiredtobe isolated from the stack.

Fig. 5 shows a code that has been utilized for a group of 128 cardswhich have been used in order I to show the maximum number of cards thatmay be used when seven selecting or assorting holes are incorporated ina card.

Fig. 6 shows a diagrammatic view of the action to which the needlesinserted in the cards are subjected in order to cause the unsupportedcard or cards, to drop thru readily, the said method of vibration ormovement of the needles is utilized ,in both the first assortingoperation as well as the second which will result in ejecting thedesired card, or a groupof cards that may be similarly coded. y

, Fig. 7 shows a. longitudinal cross-sectional view 3 of a card filethat may be conveniently utilized for holding cards for safe keeping orstorage purposes, and which is adapted to permit selective operation tobe performed readily and conveniently; the illustration is diagrammaticand suggestive.

Fig. 8 is a view looking in the direction of the arrows 8-8 on Figure 7with certain portions thereof broken away to more clearly elucidate thestructure needed for selective operation.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the mechanism utilized to impart to theneedlesthe alternate vibrating motion indicated in Figure 6.

Fig. 10 shows a circular form of card which may embrace the principlesfor assorting, and

selectivity indicated in the form shown in Figure 2.

Fig. 11 shows how a square card may be treated in the same manner andcoded for selective operation.

Fig. 12 shows a regular triangular card which may be utilized, exceptthat in the triangular card the intermediate compartment of theassorting mechanism would be rotated 120 instead of 180.

Fig. 13 shows an irregular polygon, pentagonal in shape, which is codedin accordance with the eflicient practices made available by myinvention.

Referring to Figure 2, I show, preferably, a rectangular type of cardwhich appears to be the more universally adopted commercial form offiling card, and indicate thereon its detailed construction. Now,referring to the code in Figure 5, the card illustrated is' a carddesignated A sub zero and is codedaccording to the aforesaid code.

With reference to the card generally designated 19, we take, preferably,its longer edges 33 and 34 and draw an imaginary line 35', to

the right thereof we have the three slotted portions 26 and the hole 25which are utilized as will be hereinafter more clearly elucidated. Forarranging the cards in any given stack to a position such as that whenthey are congruently or coincidently superimposed, all the holes 25 ofthe various cards will also be coincidental and in one continuouscoaxial position; thus if we consider the card illustrated in Figure 2as in an upright position adapted for sorting purposes, then it may benoted that the particular,

combination for -A. sub zero in the codified section of the card namelyto the left of the imaginary divisional line 35', and generallydesignated 36 and 31, consists of seven divisions which are designated35 and for coding purposes may be considered as bein identified by theindicia 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64, being a geoing 32, 16, 8 and 1.

The opposite edge (or the very same edge or if preferred an adjacentedge) as can be seen at 34 is the exact counterpart or reverseconstruction of the code on edge 33, namely, for A sub zero thecodespecifiesthat the .first divisional code line axis is to havea'slotted por- 31. On the opposite edge'34 the reverse'is the nated Tsub three.

condition, namely, opposite the slot 36 a hole 38 is positioned, andopposite the six holes 31 an enlarged slotted portion 39 is indicated.Each of the cards has a different combination of slots and holes and theconverse arrangement on the opposed edges so that once the cards havebeen orientated to assume an upright and forward facing position, theselective operation can be readily proceeded with as indicated in Figure3. Let us assume we wish to select the card desig- First (referring toFig. 1) the cards l9 are placed in coincident arrangement into sections15, I6, l1 and [8, preferably in space denoted l6. Two needles 21 and 28are inserted in diagonally opposed positions in card slots and holes 2|and 22, and the said needles are moved right and left as indicated infrom being moved by the needles 21 and 28 by means of. frictionalcontact with cards having theirholes engaged by the said needles.

The next assorting step is to place needles diagonally in superimposedcard slots and holes designated 26 and 23 (see intermediate diagramFig. 1) and the needle 28 is moved to the right while the needle 21is'held in place, the result is indicated in the lower section of thediagram of Fig. 1. The cards then can be veryreadily arranged so thatthe holes .25 of all the cards 19 coincide, the cards then bein arrangedin compartment I5 so that the holes 25 assume the upper right handposition. When the cards are then rotated thru an angle of the holes 25will then assume the upper left hand position (see Fig. 7) where cardsin upper compartment are so positioned ready for operating theselectingmechanism. The selection of a particular card may now be proceeded with.I

According to the code in Figure 5, T happens to be the twentieth itemdesignated, and indicates that holes 4 and 16 should be cut open orformed into slotted portions and inasmuch as there are four T" cardsnamely T sub zero, "T sub 1, T sub 2 and T" sub 3, and we desire T sub3, which card indicates its code portion designated 32 -and 64 as slotsso that in order to select the card designated T sub 3, I insert needles29 into the holes designated 4, 16', 32 and 64. The ends of needles arethen subjected to an alternate vibratory or shaking motion as indicatedin Figure 6, thus causing the cards generally designated 19 andindicated in Figure 3 at the bottom thereof in perspective asfallingthru. These cards have, the codified axis demarcatingportion' designated4, 16, 32 and 6.4 out thru and form a slotaltho each card is alsodifferent in combination at the top edge, yet all these eight cards aredropped thru in only one operation. Now from these eight cards aparticular card is desired and in order to obtain that particular card,namely, from the eight cards that had dropped thru to the bottom inFigure 3; the eight cards are now rotated thru as indicated in theviewof Figure 4, after that has been done, three needles 29 are utilized toinsert into the opposite edge of the card which has been inverted, thethree needles utilized at this time are the ones omitted from the code,namely, one, two and eight, then the same arrangement for causing avibratory or shaking action is resorted to whence card T3 will be causedto drop and thus the desired card is readily yielded from the entirestack of cards. The ends 3| of the needles 29 are, preferably, pointedas depicted at 30. If it be desired to make a selection from the groupof eight cards of a smaller group, rather than a single card, byinserting fewer needles or in other words by inserting needlesin codedivisions one and two, or in one and eight, or any single needle may beinserted, groups of cards not retained by the needles will be dropped.

It can be readily seen that with comparatively 'few needles, a greatmany cards can be operated upon and in two operations a single desiredcard will be yielded by the system utilized. It can be most readilynoticed that with the addition of one other code space, that is, havingeight spaces instead of seven, 256 cards can be operated upon in astack, to yield one desired card, and for an additional hole 512 cardscan be used for unit selectivity, one additional space permitting 1024,so that according to geometric progression, the quantities of cards thatmay be operated upon in order to obtain a single card using my system,necessitates but the least number of operations, with the least andsimplest mechanical equipment needed for such purpose.

It can also be'seen, that it is not necessary to have the cardsnumerically arranged nor alphabetically nor in any other manner. So longas the cards are coincidently positioned upright and facing forward, orinverted and facing backward, with the orientating hole, generallydesignated 25, in alignment in all the cards, the cards are ready forselective purposes. After the selection is made, the cards may bedeposited into a storage box or compartment in any manner or form andwhen one card is to be selected therefrom, they merely need to bearranged coincidently in accordance with the operation herei nbeforestipulated and suggested, and the single card or group of cards as thesituation may be, can readily be derived or obtained. A suggestivestructure for practicin my said invention with the particular card codeindicated, is shown in "Figures 7, 8, and 9. In Figure 7 a structuregenerally comprised of a file box or case 14 is shown in cross-sectionand has four compartments when in horizontal position for selectivepurposes generally designated l5, l5, l1 and I8. The cards arepreferably placed in compartment l6, that is l the second compartmentwhen the lower portion to the same coincidental position, wherein theholes 25 would be in alignment with the cards already situated incompartment l'l; then the cards in compartment l8 are rotated 180 abouttheir imaginary horizontal axis and placed in compartment ll; all thecards are now assumed to have the same position as the cards incompartment I'l whence they are taken out of compartment I! and placedinto the end compartof the equipment designated 44 is in alignmentcompartment l5 in order to assume a coincidental position with those incompartment I! are rotated on their longitudinal axis and then placedcoincidently in compartment Ii adjacent the cards in compartment ll'already there. The cards in compartment it are rotated 180 on animaginary longitudinal axis and 180 on an "imaginary horizontal axis inorder to bring than ment I5 after which the section designated 44 isallowed to drop to a perpendicular position by virtue of the; hinge 43and caused to rest against the adjusting stop 41 mounted in the bracket46. The cards I9 are then stacked exactly as indicated in thecompartment 48, compartments 4B, 49 and 50 are the compartments whichserve to facilitate the selection of an individual card.

Compartment 48 is adapted to receive a series of needles one for eachcode designation, and in this particular case, when it is desired toselect card T sub 3, needles have been placed in the holes designated 4,16, 32 and 64. After the needles have been inserted they are to besubjected to the action indicated at Figure 6 and for which purpose thefollowing mechanism is provided. Brackets 5i and 52 are secured to thesides of compartment 48 and the said brackets hold rotatably shafts 56and 6! respectively. The lever 59 is oscillated, an action performed bythe cam structure 53 which has a series of high points 54, anddepressions 55, it being rotatable by virtue of the handle 55 mounted onthe shaft 51, the lever 59 having attached thereto a conventional camroller 58 and being in turn connectedby spring tension to the link 55which is articulately secured to the shaft 56, the spring 51 holding thelever 59 and the link 65 so that the rollers 58 will bear contactualrelationship with the cam 53.

The link 65 is connected to another intermediate link 63 and to a stillfurther link 62 which link 62 is fixed to the shaft 61 and at theforward end of this shaft structure as seen in Figure 8, another levelsimilar to 59 designated 69 is positioned which is also keyed to shaft"6!, now the action is as follows: It is to be noted that when theroller 58 of the link 65 is at high point the roller 58 secured tothe'lever 59 is on low point, when the cam is rotated the high point 54on the cam thru actuation of the roller will cause the lever 59 tooscillate about its articulate pivot on the shaft 6|; the supplementallever 50 on'the other end of the filing case actuating the portion 32 ofthe needles 29 is motivated thru the cam high points 55 contacting therollers 58 and subjecting the link 55 to oscillatory movement :by virtueof its articulation on the shaft 56, thus times, incidently, the cardsare not packed tightly so as to afford a less frictional contact betweenthe cards and permit of their ejection and ready separation when the cam58 is motivated subjecting the needles to the oscillatory or vibratorymotion indicated in Figure 6, thus loosening the cards which are withoutsupport on these respec- '75 tive needles 4,16, 32 and 64, then theslide 1 III is removed permitting the cards that are notsupported incompartment .48 to drop thru into the respective openings 78 incompartment 49.

The structure is best illustrated in Figure 9 where it is indicated thatthe sections 68 are, preferably, positioned in an arcuate housing-likestructure 69 so as to permit rotation thereof 180 at a time. Thestructure is comprised of a .series of opening 10 with sharp edgesections so as to cause the cards dropping thereupon to :fall intoeither of two adjacent compartments designated 10, or 69 depending onwhich position the sections 68 may assume. The cards will rest on thebottom ll of the respective pockets ill, or 12 which are the bottoms ofthe pockets 69. After the cards have dropped into these pockets 10 andsubsequently to the insertion of the proper needles through the cards,the rotor element 68 is rotated through an arc of 180, then anothervibrational action is caused to take place by vir-- tue of the cam i3which is similar to the one designated 53. The action here is a duplexarrangement of mechanism, if we may call the arrangement in compartment48 a simplex mechanism.

The vibratory mechanism is comprised of a series of supporting bracketsi8 and 19 in which are journalled the shafts 89 and a correspondingshaft 8| on the opposing side, a number of slotted portions 84 areindicated for insertion of needles therethru, and the cam is mounted onthe shaft i rotatable relative to element 58 and to which is keyed thehandle 14 for rotating purposes, the entire affair mounted, preferably,in the bearings I6 and '71 so as to permit the entire unit composed ofsection 68 with its cam actuated mechanism to be rotated within thearcuate confines 69' when it is desired to select a particular card asthe second and ultimate operation of unit selectivity.

The shafts 80 and 8| serve to retain articulately mounted thereon thebell-crank levers 82 and 88 respectively, the said bell-cranks beingfree to rotate on the said shafts, the shafts being keyed to the levers88 and ilil, one leg of the bell-crank 82 being articulately connectedthru the link 81 articulating at points 9'! and 98 to the lever 90 whichis keyed to the shaft 8|, the link 93 being articulately secured at 94to the lever 86 and at 95 articulately connected to one leg of thebellcrank 88. levers 82 and 88 respectively have secured thereto rollers33 and 85 which operate 180 out of phase with respect to the cam '13 andare retained in contactual relationship with respect to the said cam byvirtue of the interconnecting sprin 85; thus it can be seen that whenthe handle 14 is rotated, the leg of the bell-crank 82 disposed nearestthe slotted portions 84 will be caused to be swung in an arcuatedirection by virtue of its being pivoted on shaft 8!] thus causing anyneedles which may be inserted in any of these openings 84 to be liftedup and down. Simultaneously with that action, and translating the motionof the arcuate motion of the said bell-crank 82, by virtue of its linkconnection 81 to the link 90 which is keyed to the shaft 81, the lever9| will be caused to operate in synchronism therewith, namely, when thebell-crank 82 travels in an upward direction, the complementaryoperating lever 9| will move downwardly and vice versa. When the Thefree portions of the bell-crank u rear of the unit moves upwardly andvice versa. The said complementary vibratory unit on the one handconsisting of the bell-crank B2 and the lever 91 move out of phase withrespect to the bell-crank complementary vibratory unit comprised of thebell-crank 88 and the rear actuating lever 92. Thus it can be seen by anumber of rotary motions of the handle 14 the cards will be subjected tothe treatment indicated in the Figure 6.

In compartment 5!! the desired card generally designated 40, and bearingthe code T3 (see Figure 4) can be found, thus showing the assortment tobe complete. Now, any multiple of one hundred twenty eight cards may beselectively disposed in a similar container in which event the desiredselectivity will be one card for every one hundred twenty eight cards ofa group of similarly codified units of one hundred twenty eight.

Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13 show, exemplarily, how my codifying scheme ormethod may be utilized with different shapes of cards. The rectangularhowever, are considered the more desirable and for that reason have beenfound commercially more universally in adoption. In Figure 10, I showhow a circular card I01 may be treated i. e. by providing anirregularity on its periphery in the form'of a tab extension HI, havingperhaps a notched portion I I2, so as to permit a needleto be insertedat its periphery, and by one or more complete rotations of that needlethrough revolutions of 360", all the tabs ill will be caught, and hencethe cards will be thus coincidently positioned.

The next operation would be t insert needles as indicated in Figure l,at the respective points marked 26 and 2.5, using two diagonally opposedneedles and then the two diagonally opposed needles complementary to thefirst two diagonally inserted needles, and then the cards may beorientated to assume the same upright and face forward position readyfor selectivity. The code 38 may be designated on one portion thereofand 180 opposed thereto, the counterpart 109 of that code following thruthe same motif and scheme as indicated for the rectangular arrangementshown in Figure 2.

Likewise a square card 98 may be utilized in which event it will requirea greater number of sorting operations in order to set the cards uprightand coincidental, inasmuch as the four sides of a square are equal andtwo slotted portions on each of three sides will be required and oneslotted portion and one hole on the side which is considered its uprightarrangement. The selection code I08 and its counterpart ID! are shown ontwo opposed edges.

Figure 12 shows an isosceles triangularly shaped card 99 which willnaturally require that two of its edges contain assorting portions, andon one side, respectively, double slots 26, whereas one side will have asingle slot 26 and a hole 25 showing the erect position. On only twosides the combination and its counterpart may be indicated, that isnamely, where a hole is part of the combination'on its opposing side aslot is to be positioned in opposed relationship and vice versa. Theselective code and its counterpart are indicated I02 and I03.

Figure 13 indicates an irregular polygon consisting of five sides,pentagonal in nature, generally designated IM and in order to orientateit to upright and straight forward position, two slots will be requiredon each of its edges or sides except the one side whichis'to beconsidered asthe alignment side'for erect and face-forward pur-" poses,which has merely one slot 26 and aligning opening, or hole25. .Theselective code I05 and its counterpart I06 is found on any two sides?The cards, after they are set in upright position may be treated in amechanism similar to that indicated in Figures 7, 8 and 9, and thedesired card may be selectively obtained in two operations; if onehundred twenty eight cards are'used, seven codifying points arenecessary and two, operations are needed for the selection of any onecard, and as heretoforestated, the number of cards that can be containedin the original stack for the selection of a single card grow in rapidprogression because of the geometric progression arrangement that isutilized to characterize my particular codifying system.

order to illustrate that the geometric arrangement will permit ofselectively codifying one hundred twenty eight cards, the terms of theprogression are designated 1, 2,4, 8, 16, 32 and 64; by permutation andcombination of the said numerals which designate the openings that maybeutilized for codifying purposes; any numeral from one to one hundredtwenty seven can be attained, the cipher indicating the one hundredtwenty eighth and signifying no holes.

According to the code in Figure 5, inasmuch as the alphabet containsonly twenty-six characters, I have used the Greek alphabet in which thefollowing letters have been used, delta, theta, phi,

sigma, psi and omega, hence I-have taken the eight-differently codedcards Byvirtue of my codified arr'angement it isjto be understoodthat-thafigure's of the geometric of its edges, and two slots on all ofthe remaining edges, the said slots and perforation being equidistantfrom the geometric center of the said card. v 3.'The method of selectinga single card from a stack of cards, each provided with a code sec tionconsisting of permutations and combinations of open slots andperforations identified by terms of a geometric progression, each cardbeing also provided with a complementary code section opposed to thepermutations and combinations of open slots and perforations in the saidcode sec-" tion; selective operation being performed by (1) inserting aseries of needles in each of the open slotted portions in the codesection (2) subjecting the stack to vibratory motion allowing thefunsupported cards to drop from the stack, (3) invertingf'the group ofcards dropped from the stack, (4) inserting in the complementary codesection needles in each of the open slotted por' tions therein, (5) andsubjecting the said cards which formerly dropped thru to vibratorymotion, thus releasing a chosen card.

4.-I-n' a card selecting and assorting structure or mechanism, vibratingmechanism adapted to lift'and lower opposed ends of needles alternately,to subject cards mounted'on said needles to be shaken comprising,'a pairof oppositely disposed shafts mounted-in supports on the sides of saidselecting and asserting mechanism, a bell-crank element articulately"mountedon each of said shafts, a lever element keyed to each of saidshafts, a link element articulately secured toa bell-crank'element onone of said shafts and to the lever element keyed to the other of saidshafts, on the remaining end of said mechanism a lever keyed toieach ofsaid shafts, the freelegs of :said bell-crank lever elements providedwith progression, namely, one, two,-'- up to sixty four,

or up to any numeral that it maybe desired, depending on the number ofcards that may be utilized, are merely imaginary and sugg'estiveso as tofacilitate themanner of codifying a large number of cards. a i

My system by way of practical utilization, may be used to advantage bypublic utilities or institutions having to do with filingnumerous/records, or insurance companies, where for example T sub 3,maydenote one or moreindividuals whose policies are about to lapse, or mayindicate policy holders 60 years or older, or younger, or any forclassification. V r I Altho I have herein indicated preferred forms ofthe card structure and'also 'of a mec anism to faci itate the assortmentand selectivity thereof, it is to be understood that inasmuch as thedisclosed structure is susceptible of modifications, alterations andimprovements, my inventio is to be limited only by the appended claims.

Having thus disclosed and revealed my invention, what I claim as noveland desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A card or the like adapted to be identically orientated with allother cards in a stack of cards, com-prising an open slot and aperforation on One of ,itsedges and two open slots on at least anotherof its edges, the said slots and perforation being equidistant from thegeometric center of the said card.

2. A card or the like adapted to be identically orientated with allother cards in a stack of cards comprising, an open slot and a prforation on one categoryit may be' found desirable to resort to icam':rollers, iarcam provided with a series of protuberances and.intermediate depressions rotat :a'bl'y mounted'inbetween said camrollers, spring means connecting the free legs of said bell-crank leversmaintaining the said cam rollers in con ate "compartment consisting ofadjacent card re- -ceivingfipocket portions separated by sharp edgedwall portions on one face thereof; and alternately disposed cardreceiving pocket portions on an opposed face thereof, the said cardreceiving pocket portions on the saidfirst-mentioned face being disposedin alternate relationship with respect to the said second-mentioned cardreceiving pocket portions on the-said opposed face.

.6. Anorientating method for a stack of cards congruently arranged, eachcard being provided with a sorting code including four portions, namely,a hole and an open slot on one edge of each card, and two open slotssubstantially oppositely disposed with respect to the said hole and openslot, the said holes in all of the said cards'being disposed inalignment or registry when the said cards are arranged in orderlyfashion, the said holes being in alignment or registry with the slots ofthe other cards in the said stack when the cards are congruentlyarranged in disorderly fashion; the said sorting operation beinperformed by (1) arranging congruently the said stack of cardspreparatory for sorting, (2) inserting needles in each 0f two diagonallyopposed sections and moving the said I1 that portion of the said stackof cards remaining as a result of step (2) and moving the said needlesin opposed directions, the sorting operations resulting in foursub-stacks orientated in tour different positions, whereas all the cardsin each of said sub-stacks being identically orientated, and (4)restacking the said resultant sub-stacks into identical position withrespect to any one substack, by rotating one sub-stack 180 on itsimaginary horizontal axis, one sub-stack 180 on its imaginarylongitudinal axis and 180 on its imaginary vertical axis, and ultimatelyby rotatingv the third sub-stack 180 on its imaginary new - 12 totalnumber of needles used being equivalent t6 thenumber of terms of thesaid progression, the number of needles. used for the said operationdesignated (1) being equivalent to the number of. terms whose combinedsum designates the code of the said card to be selected, the number ofneedles used for the said operation designated (4) being equivalent tothe total number of j needles minus. the number of needles used for saidvertical axis, thus resulting in an orderly ar- I rangement of the saidstack of cards. I

'1'. The method of selecting a single card from a stack of cards, eachprovided with a code section consisting Of permutations and combinationsof open slots and perforations identified by terms of a geometricprogression, each card being also provided with a. complementary codesection opposed to the permutations and combinations of open slots andperforations in the said codesection; selective operation beingperformed by (1) inserting a series of needles in each of the openslotted portions in the code section of the card desired (2) subjectingthe stack to vibratory motion. allowing the unsupported cards to dropfrom the stack; (3) inverting the group of cards dropped; from thestack, (4) inserting in the complementary code section needles in eachof the open slotted portions therein. (5) -andsub-. jecting the saidcards which formerly dropped thru to vibratory motion, thus releasing achosen card, the. total number of needles .usedbeing equivalent to thenumbe of terms of the said geometric progression 8'. The method ofselecting a single from a stack of cards, each provided with a. codesecdesired (2) subjecting the stack tov vibratory motion allowing theunsupported cards to drop from the stack, (3) inverting the group ofcards dropped from the stack, (4) inserting in the complementary codesection needles in each of the open slotted portions therein, (.5) andsubjecting the said cards which formerly dropped thru to vibratorymotion, thus releasing a chosen card, the

operation designated (1) 9. A card. file comprised of two sections, anorientating section subdivided into four compartments, and a. unitselecting section articulately secured thereto, and adapted to bepositionedat substantially right angles thereto, one of the saidcompartments being common structure to both the said orientating sectionand the said unit selecting section, the said unit selecting ectionbeing subdivided into three compartments compris ing, the saidcompartment common to both sections, an intermediate compartmentrotatably mounted and. provided with oppositely disposed pocketportions, means on the said intermediate compartment for shaking cardssupported on needles deposited therein, and a unit selection compartmentfor receiving a selected card.

WILLIAM E. BLOCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 999,991 Hargrave Aug. 8, 1911nagqpae Downing May 18,. 1920 1,358,389 ONeil Nov. 9, 1920 1,404,611Hoag Jan. 24, 1922 1,544,172 Perkins June 30, 1925 1,662,669- HallettMar. 13, 1928 1,739,087 Perkins Dec. 10, 1929 1,748,692 Adams Feb. 25,1930 2,190,701 Feldman Feb. 20, 1940 2,259,463 Griflin Oct. 21, 19412,270,896 Rippon Jan. 27, 1942 2,315,860 Jones Apr. 6, 1943 2,359,705Zalkind Oct. 3, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 225,069 GreatBritain Nov. 27, 1924 347,399 Great Britain 1931 508,589 Great Britain1939 522,386 Great Britain 1940 546,676 Great Britain 1 1942

